"Her body is ridding itself of the toxin, but how...?"
"What do you mean?"
"Dakota, either a human becomes a vampire once injected with their toxin or by bite or they die," Stephanie spoke quietly. "To find another human who is able to do this...?"
"You've met another?" Andrew asked.
"Yes it was almost ten years ago over in Hawaii. I found a man trapped in his car, having run off the road and into a tree. I helped him out and he immediately puked up black blood."
"You remember what he looked like?"
"No," Stephanie sighed. "I was only 14 at the time uncle, but I do remember something he wore. It was a metal amulet of sorts."
"And...?"
"Noc... Nocte man... Gah, I can't remember it!" Stephanie growled. "There was an inscription on it.
"Nocte manibus non moriemur..." Leo whispered as she finally stopped coughing.
"Yeah that the one," Stephanie stopped screaming in frustration. "How did you know?"
"Know what...? The Latin inscription on the amulet passed down my father's family? There wasn't that many men who got their cars wrapped around a tree in Hawaii ten years ago," Leo snorted.
"What does it mean?" Dakota asked.
"That goes back along time ago," Andrew spoke, his voice full of surprise. "Nocte manibus non moriemur means 'Never shall we die at the hands of the Night.' Back when Werewolves and Vampires were first created, there was rumor that another race was created. One who could easily look at wolf and bat and know a true monster laid beneath the surface of their human forms and not be affected by either of their powers but also gained abilities of their own."
"Abilities?"
"Well obviously immunity from Vampires controlling gaze, the rumors said that these third beings were almost as fast as wolf and bat, heightened senses, rid their bodies of unwanted toxins, never became ill even if they were injured, and lastly there was one rumored out of all these who could walk dreams..."
"Is she one of the Hunters?!" Stephanie whimpered and the pack backed away more.
"What is your full name child?" An old man walked forward and knelt in front of Leo.
"Still alive I see," Andrew sighed before the old man's fist came down on his head. "Sorry father, I did not mean to be disrespectful."
"Hush, Andy," Dakota's grandfather snapped. "Child, we must know..."
"Why? For the safety of your pack?" Leo lifted her head and glared at the old man. "You scared, old man? Your red-headed daughter seems to be as well as the rest of this pack..."
"For the safety of your own life child," he interrupted. "You are under the protection of my son, that means your under mine as well as the rest of the pack's protection. If you are one of the Hunters, it will become more clear why the Nightbloods are after you."
"I haven't said my full name for a long time, old man," Leo sighed as she shifted and sat between Dakota's legs who in return held her close. She took a pained breath before uttering another word. "Leodora Taylor Arietta Hunt Wilkinson. That help you?"
"Wilkinson?
"It's my stepfather's last name. My mom forced me to chance my name when my mom remarried," Leo shrugged. "My true last name is Hunt."
"That proves it..."
"It proves nothing," Stephanie snapped. "She's just cursed with a freakin long name."
"Could you easily draw your fathers amulet?"
"Not at all," Leo sneered. "It's not like I didn't look and play with it for seven years straight."
"There's no need to be hostile..."
"Oh and who started it?" Leo countered.
"Leo," Dakota whispered in her ear. "He's just trying to help and I'm sorry for accusing your father."
"At least someone is a trained mongrel," Leo giggled, "and help me off this floor. It's starting to hurt..."
The doorbell rung as a fist hit the door three times.
"Expecting company son?" The old man asked as Dakota helped Leo to her feet.
"Yes, Leo's current father was bringing Leo's art bag by for her," Andrew spoke calmly. "So go back into the living room. I'm sure he doesn't want to be pounces on my fifty wolves."
"He knows?"
"The only one besides Leo. Blame your grandson for letting her on on the family secret. He shifted for her," Andrew smirked as he walked to the door and opened it. "Hello Jack, right on time. Come in."
"Dakota," his grandfather growled but then Leo started laughing. "What...?"
"Old man has a tail," she giggled. "What, can't shift properly because you're too old?"
"This old man has a name, child."
"Yes and it eludes me because no one seems to have the manors to introduce themselves," Leo spoke quietly. "Hi dad."
"Leo, are you sure you should be up?" Jack came over immediately and hugged her with one arm will Dakota still supported most of her weight as she stood against him.
"I'm fine," Leo smiled.
"I am Henry, child," grandfather spoke calmly.
"Nice to meet you Henry, you still got a tail though," Leo frowned.
"Has she been acting this way much?" Dakota heard Jack ask his father.
"The moment we brought her up from the room below. I think she has been locked away without anyone to socialize too long," Andrew chuckled. "Did you get her bag?"
"Leo gets like this like three times a month. Yes, it's right..."
"Gimme that," Leo growled and lunged forward. She snatched the bag off Jack's shoulder and he wobbled, suddenly unbalanced from her sudden attack.
"You would think she wasn't injured," Maiya sighed as she came into view. "Leo, you reopened your wounds."
"So?" Leo frowned as Dakota held her bag as she pulled out her sketchbook and flipped through the pages. Dakota fond several pictures that he hasn't last time he stole her sketchbook at school and was surprised. She finally stopped on a page where there were head portraits of three men on one page. "Andrew, there you go. These are the men your looking for..."
"Is that blood on the ground?" Jack asked suddenly.
"Small werewolf dominance fight," Dakota lie quickly. "The pack is always trying to see who's stronger."
"It's black..."
"We're werewolves," Dakota shrugged.
"I see, well Annie is expecting me home soon. Ill being your homework packets by tomorrow Leo," Jack smiled believing the lie.
"Ok dad," Leo smiled. "See ya tomorrow."
"Don't cause to much trouble Leo," Jack growled with a smile.
"Why would I do such a thing?" Leo spoke giggling a little.
"Because you tend to get rebellious when you cannot go do things by yourself away from the house," Jack smiled. "Ill be back tomorrow after work."
"Alright," Leo smiled back. Jack nodded and left. "Andrew don't wander through my sketchbook. On the inside of the back cover is a painting of the amulet."
"Why did it take three weeks to get this to me?"
"I don't like people touching my things very often. Ask Dakota, he got slapped last time he touched my sketchbook."
"That was before you really knew me though," Dakota whispered.
"Why don't you two go into the dining room with the pack? Dinner will be ready soon..."
"You're going to make me sit with those mongrels...?"
"We're part of those mongrels, besides you need to start moving more to loosen your stiff muscles and strengthen them," Maiya spoke. "I just got off the phone with the physical therapist and she said that until she arrives next Monday, you need to start walking and doing stairs and simple things like that."
"Fuck you," Leo muttered, and a bunch of of laughter erupted from down the hallway.
"I think there will be a fight in that direction," Dakota whispered pointing down the hall as Maiya started walking towards the sounds. "She doesn't like being shown up in front of the pack."
"Really...?" Soon there was a whole bunch of growling and thuds. Leo looked at Dakota for a second before she started laughing. "So as long as there is pack around, show her up all I want because she'll attack them?"
"Something like that," Dakota smiled as he pulled her into his arms and walked down a hallway on the other side of the stairs, away from the fighting and soon they entered the dinning room where several of the pack were already sitting and chatting along a very large table.